To truly start from scratch, you need to let go of all that
negative stuff that you are getting away from in the first place. Though you may physically be away from it,
you need to also mentally let it go. Stop
listening to the negative stories you have been telling yourself, and let go of
the negative beliefs you have about yourself and lack of ability as a result
from the previous situation. By letting go
of all those negative ideas and stories, you are truly starting from scratch
and creating room for positive stories to form and cultivate. I have learned that in starting over it is
not just enough to physically move from one place to another, or change
locations. You also need to mentally let
go and change your thinking and attitude in order to start over, move forward,
and create something new and amazing in your life.
This subject matter came to mind when I went out for a run
the other afternoon for the first time in 5 months. Now, I have been doing crossfit, surfing, and
paddling, however, running is a different story. I had hurt my ankle earlier this year and
have been unable to jog any distance before it starts to hurt. So, I just haven’t been partaking in this
activity. I have been busy doing other
activities that I haven’t really missed it until about a month ago. There’s just something I get from running
that I don’t get from my other activities.
I think it’s the mindless repetition of moving my feet that allows my
mind to meditate as well as work through issues or challenges in my life. Since I started to miss running, I had been THINKING
about starting to participate in my old exercise staple again as my ankle has
been healing. I was brought the perfect
opportunity on this particular day; I was unable to make it to crossfit, there
weren’t any waves and the ocean was pretty choppy, there was no paddling that
day, and it was cloudy with a nice cooling breeze. So I thought to myself, “what a perfect
opportunity to actually DO what I have been THINKING about doing for the past
month or so”. I dusted off (literally) my
running sneakers and headed out on a 2.5 mile run…nothing too long.
On my way out on my jaunt around the loop, I realized that I
was making a fresh start and that I should have no expectation of my
performance what so ever! I mentally
prepared myself knowing that I hadn’t been on a run in a while, and that since this
activity is not a strength of mine, I needed to let go of what I used to be
able to do and be super stoked with completing a 2.5 mile course, no matter how
long it takes. Though I had completed a
couple of marathons, I wasn’t out training for a marathon, nor do I ever have
the intention of training for one EVER again.
I needed to let go any thoughts that compared me to the past, or what I
used to be able to do. With this
mindset, I was able to just run and be proud that I was out jogging and working
hard doing it. I didn’t get down on
myself because I was out of breath, or that I was slugging along. No, I had let
that go, and was super stoked that I was running and that my ankle didn’t hurt
while I was doing it.
Then I had a realization: making a fresh start and letting
things go doesn’t only apply to my running or any other physical activity I
participate in. It in fact applies to EVERYTHING
in life! This realization especially hit
home to me regarding my recent career change.
Though I had quit teaching and started health coaching, and
yes, my life has been changed for the better in many ways, I still was holding
on to old beliefs that had formed as a result of working for an organization for
five years that didn’t respect or value me.
I was still feeling a lack of confidence, I was questioning my validity
and credentials, and I was still full of fear and the idea that I wasn’t good
enough to be a health coach. Who’s going
to believe me? My voice was never valued or respected in the DOE (department of education), so why would
anyone listen to me now? All of the
stories that had built up while working for the DOE and over time were still
here with me and they were preventing me from moving forward in my new career!
So, I started letting go of these limiting beliefs and the
negative stories that I had been making up in my head as a result of my past
experiences. By letting these beliefs
go, I have made room for positive beliefs and thoughts that serve me. I see possibilities instead of insecurities,
solutions instead of roadblocks. By
letting go of negative self-beliefs, I have been able to move forward with
projects that have been sitting on the back burner because fear and doubt would
not let me move forward. Also, by letting go of negative stories and self-talk,
I am open to receiving complements and positive feedback from clients, friends,
and family. (And believing them too!) I am starting from scratch and moving
forward with the belief in myself, that my voice is valued, and that what I
know IS important to other people (because it IS! Food changed my life, and I
know it can change your life too!), and that other people are dying to work with
me. Because they are!
A physical change in location is only part of starting
over. Letting go of the mental and
emotional connection to that time you are getting away from is how to truly
start from scratch and make amazing, positive things happen in your life!
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